Greece has signed an agreement to formalize the acquisition of its first F-35 Lightning II fighter jets from the US.
The update follows Washington’s approval of the aircraft’s sale to Athens in January.
Lightning II developer Lockheed Martin, which will serve as the sale’s primary contractor, noted that Greece’s letter of offer and acceptance for the sale ordered 20 planes for the Hellenic Air Force.
The letter also includes an option for 20 more F-35s, depending on the service’s requirements.
“For several decades, the Hellenic Air Force has been our partner, and it is our honor to continue that relationship as Greece becomes the 19th nation to join the F-35 program,” Lockheed Martin F-35 VP and General Manager Bridget Lauderdale stated.
“The F-35 is the only fighter suitable to strengthen Greece’s sovereignty and operational capability with allies.”
Athens formalized a request to acquire the US-made combat aircraft in June 2022.
Supporting Allies in Modern Warfare
Lockheed said that the latest F-35 purchase adds to the growing utility of the aircraft across NATO and its allies.
The company highlighted that by the end of the decade, approximately 6,000 F-35s will be employed in over 10 European countries, including two full US squadrons stationed in Lakenheath, England.
In Greece, the presence of the jets is expected to boost “safeguarding” capabilities across the country and nearby allied airspace by playing a vital role in defeating modern-day adversaries.
“The F-35 will provide exceptional capability to the Hellenic Air Force, build interoperability between our allies and strengthen the combat effectiveness for all of NATO,” Lockheed said.
“The F-35’s growing presence across Europe is a powerful testament of alliance-based deterrence and is setting the foundation for NATO and allied nations’ next generation air power capability.”
Lockheed Martin Lightning II
The F-35 Lightning II has a wingspan of 35 feet (11 meters) and a fuselage length of 51.4 feet (15.7 meters).
It is powered by a Pratt & Whitney turbofan engine for a top speed of Mach 1.06 (1,308 kilometers/813 miles per hour), a range of 1,500 nautical miles (2,800 kilometers), and an altitude of up to 50,000 feet (15,000 meters).
The aircraft’s weapon suite includes rotary cannons, air-to-air and air-to-surface missiles, anti-ship warheads, and guided and nuclear bombs.
